Previously, high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of a whole and intact pancreas was not possible, since light is scattered when it passes through cell compartments with different refractive indices. CLARITY is one of the tissue clearing techniques that has yielded success with the central nervous system. To preserve tissue integrity after delipidation, conventional protocols embed tissue in an acrylamide-based hydrogel, which involves the use of specialized equipment. Recently, we determined that the hydrogel-embedding step could be simplified and replaced by passive tissue fixation in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA)...

PURPOSE: To describe a novel technique to reshape the ectatic cornea by means of crescent keratectomy performed with an excimer laser using a mask. METHODS: A crescent-shaped perforation at the base of the mask allowed the laser ablation to be directed only to the intended region, shielding the remaining cornea. This technique was performed in 3 eyes of 3 patients with keratoconus grade 2 to 3. Arcs of 180° and 360° had been performed depending on the severity of the keratoconus...

PURPOSE: To describe the management of and report the outcomes following the removal of retained lenticules or lenticule fragments after a complicated small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). METHODS: Three patients were referred for consultation due to intraoperative complications during SMILE. In case 1, the lenticule was torn during extraction and a central fragment was retained in the pocket. In case 2, the inferior part of the lenticule remained attached at the anterior plane and its detached, superior part was dislocated and folded at the inferior part of the pocket...

PURPOSE: To report early corneal biomechanical changes after corneal cross-linking (CXL) in patients with keratoconus. METHODS: Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients undergoing CXL for progressive keratoconus were included in this prospective clinical study. Dynamic corneal response (DCR) parameters obtained with the Corvis ST (OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH; Wetzlar, Germany) were assessed at baseline (day of CXL) and after 1 month of follow-up; conversely, corneal tomography with the Pentacam (OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH) was assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after CXL...

PURPOSE: This study compared the efficacy and safety of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and mitomycin C (MMC) up to 4 months in the prevention of corneal haze induced by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in rabbits in vivo. METHODS: Corneal haze in rabbits was produced with -9.00 diopter PRK. A single application of SAHA (25 μM) or MMC (0.02%) was applied topically immediately after PRK. Effects of the two drugs were analyzed by slit-lamp microscope, specular microscope, TUNEL assay, and immunofluorescence...

PURPOSE: To create a formula to predict refractive correction of autologous lenticule implantation for correction of hyperopia (with myopia in one eye and hyperopia in the contralateral eye). METHODS: In this prospective study, 10 consecutive patients (20 eyes) who had myopia in one eye and hyperopia in the contralateral eye were included. The preoperative spherical equivalent was -3.31 ± 1.73 diopters (D) for the myopic eyes and +4.46 ± 1.97 D for the hyperopic eyes...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative asphericity in low, moderate, and high myopic eyes after combined transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy and SmartSurfACE treatment (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH, Kleinostheim, Germany). METHODS: In this retrospective case series, the outcomes of myopic SmartSurfACE were evaluated at 3 months postoperatively in 106 eyes and divided into low (less than -4.125 diopters [D]), moderate (-4.125 to -6.25 D), and high (more than -6...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) with intraoperative use of mitomycin C (MMC) performed on thin corneas for the correction of myopia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 100 eyes with a preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) thinner than 500 μm that underwent LASEK + MMC with at least 6 years of follow-up. Stability of visual acuity and refraction and the efficacy, safety, and predictability at the examinations 3 months and the last annual postoperative visit were analyzed...

PURPOSE: To determine whether use of a capsular tension ring (CTR) can increase refractive stability in patients with implantation of two different trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS: A prospective, consecutive series of eyes underwent refractive lens exchange with implantation of two different trifocal IOL designs: FineVision Micro F (non-toric) and FineVision POD FT (toric) (PhysIOL, Liege, Belgium). Power calculation was determined using the Haigis formula...

PURPOSE: To compare the prediction error in the calculation of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) associated with methods that estimate the power of the posterior corneal surface (ie, Barrett toric calculator and Abulafia-Koch formula) with that of methods that consider real measures obtained using Scheimpflug imaging: a software that uses vectorial calculation (Panacea toric calculator: http://www.panaceaiolandtoriccalculator.com) and a ray tracing software (PhacoOptics, Aarhus Nord, Denmark)...

Sulpha drugs are widely employed in medicine for various diseases and disorders. During the last several decades, numerous papers had been published on supra ciliary and posterior choroidal effusion likely presenting as an idiosyncratic effect of these drugs especially of acetazolamide. In each publication, the effusion was associated with either an acute angle-closure glaucoma or transitory myopia or both of these as leading symptoms. In the current publication, authors report on two cases where the acetazolamide-induced choroidal effusion was an accidental finding without either a myopic shift in refraction or an acute elevation in intraocular pressure...

Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a frequent overuse-injury of the extensor knee apparatus whereas as up to 30% of the athletes might suffer from persisting symptoms during their entire career. In the present case-control study, 47 patients (30.8±11.4 years) with PT with intra-tendinous alteration (PTita) of a minimum of ≥ 25% of the axial surface on MRI and minimum Blazina score of II (pain during without limiting sports activity) were included; MR images were analysed for trochlear geometry, patellar height/tilt, and tibial tubercle trochlear groove distance (TT-TG)...

Energy demands have motivated the development of shale formations as significant unconventional reservoirs. The anisotropy of shales plays a significant role in both the mechanical behavior and engineering activities. Alternating layers presented in shales affect the propagation of waves, causing anisotropy at various frequencies. Simplifying the complicated interior structures of shales is conducive to characterize the anisotropic properties. Therefore, simulative shale core samples were designed and fabricated using additive manufacturing processes, and layer-caused dielectric anisotropy was investigated by terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy...

A 58-year-old woman with bilateral Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy presented with predominantly central guttata in the left eye causing visually significant stromal edema. A 4.0 mm descemetorhexis without endothelial keratoplasty was performed. At the 6-week follow-up, the central cornea had cleared completely and the central endothelial cell density (ECD) was 541 cells/mm2. The central corneal clearing remained stable for 2 years after the procedure; however, vision declined because of a visually significant cataract in the left eye...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) retreatment in eyes with hyperopia. SETTING: Multicenter refractive surgery centers and University Hospital, Germany. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: This multicenter study included hyperopic patients with a preoperative difference between cycloplegic and manifest refraction of 1.00 diopter (D) or less who had LASIK retreatment based on manifest refraction...

We describe a technique of small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)-assisted sutureless corneal resurfacing with interface tattooing for superficial limbal dermoids. After excision at a plane minimally below surrounding normal cornea and sclera, a corneal tattoo powder is carefully applied within an inked circular outline of the intended corneal margin. Circularity and cosmesis are assessed in natural light with the microscope light off. Fibrin glue-assisted corneal resurfacing is performed with the lenticule...

Light localization is a phenomenon which arises due to the interference effects of light waves inside a disordered optical medium. Quantification of degree light localization in optical media is widely used for characterizing degree of structural disorder in that media. Recently, this light localization approach was extended to analyze structural changes in biological cell like heterogeneous optical media, with potential application in cancer diagnostics. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to construct 'optical lattices', which represents 2D refractive index map corresponding to the spatial mass density distribution of a selected molecule inside the cell...